Expansion joint



Aug, 31, 1943. R6. LE TOURNEAU 2,328,155 EXPANSION JOINT Filed0ct. 25,1941 L LU-ELL- INVENTOR E. G. Le7burneaa Patented Aug. 31, 1943EXPANSION JOINT Robert G. Le Tournau, Peoria,- Ill., assignor'to R. G,Le Toumcau, Inc., a corporation PPlication October 25, l94l, 's erialNo. 416,515 V 1Claim. (01.9440) Thisinvention comprises improvements inexpansion joints, and in particulatthe invention is directed to a uniqueexpansion joint for use between sections of concrete in floors,,sidewalks, curbs or the like, to prevent cracking of the sections uponexpansionbeyond normal dimensions and to enclose thegap between sectionset all times and especially upon contraction to dimensions below saidnormal.

The principal object of the invention is to provide en expansion jointwhich in itseif is sclid and relatively non-expansibie, beingconstructed preferably of metal but arranged t permit of free expansionor contraction cf adjacent concrete sections While at all cimesmaintaining the expansion gap covered.

,Another object of the invention is to provide, in noirel assembly, apermanent form for concrete slabs, and expansion joints, the latterinitially functioning as form members.

An additional object is to provide a novelcombination which comprisesadjacent concrete slabs or sections and a joint in the form of an I-beamconnecting the same; the flanges of the beam overhanging adjacent edgesof said sections and -adjacent; ends of said sections being normallyspaced from the beam web.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. method ofconstructing a concrete floor or the like which comprises the steps ofestablishng a iorm which includes spaced parallel I-beams disposed Withthe beam flanges horizontal, and then pouring fresh concrete into theform and entirely filling the space between said flanges.

A turther object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposesfor which it is designed.

These chicots I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fuliy appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claim.

In the drawing similar characters of reference -indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Figure 1:is aplan view of the combination permanent form and expansionjoints, a portion only of the form being filled With concrete.

Figure 2 is a ragmentary sectionai elevation, showing a concrete slab inthe combination form immediately after pouring.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the retraction ofadjacent ends cf adjacent slabs from the Web of the intermediateexpansion joint.

Figure 4 is an elevation of a curb, partly in section, illustrating theinvention as Larranged for use as a curb expansion joint.

Figure 5 is' a cross-section on Fig. 4.

jReferririg now more particuiariy tb characters of reference on thedraWing, and particularly at prsent to thembodinient shownin Figs; 1-3,inclusive, ofthe drawing, thisembodi-' ment discloses the combination"inunitary assembly cf the permanent "formandjexpansion joints. This.ssembl' comprises a bordering forin for a floor area or the like, thebordering members l being connected together at adjacent ends and beingof I-beam configuration in cross section,

With the beam web 2 disposed vertically.- This bordering form isdisposed on the ground G, v which has previously been prepared andleveled,-

and a multiplicity of downturned hooks 3 project laterally inwardly fromthe webs 2 in a substantially horizontal plane some distance above theground.

A plurality of I-beams 4 which initially serve as form members andsubsequently as expansion joints, as wil1 hereinaftr appear, are rigidlyconnected to each other and to the bordering form in such relation as toprovide rectangular sections 5 Within the form; these I-beams 4 beingdisposed in the same plane as the form and With their webs 9 vertical.

The members comprising the combination bordering form and expansionjoints are preferabiy connected together at points of abutment byweiding.

When the combination bordering form and expansion joints is in place,each section 5 is poured With fresh concrete to produce a slab 6; the

fresh concrete when poured entirely filling the space between the upperand lower flanges 1 and 8 of the adjacent I-beams and extending intofull contact With the beam webs 9 thereof,

As the concrete dries and sets there is a temperature loss resulting inslightcontraction of the slab which causes the edge portion of the samet0 pull away a short distance from the web 9 of the adjacent expansionjoints, leaving a space I0 therebetween, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Asthe edge portions of the slab retract from webs 9 With setting of theconcrete, said edges also retract relative to the fianges 1 and 8,leaving depressions Il beyond the side edges of said flanges.

With the expansion joint disposed as above, and after setting of theconcrete, the slabs 6 can either expand or retract from normal, beingsubstantiaily fulfil1s the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth indetaii the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resortedto as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended daim.

HaVng thusdescribedmy invention, What I "daim 'asnew" and useful anddesire t0 secure by Letters Patent is:

A combination permanent form and.expansion jont -fer a pluraiity ofrectangular concrete slabs,

expansion joint is here designed *particulafly for use in connectionwith sideWal-k ourbe-or simiiar structures. The curb type expansionjoint inc1udes a vertical plate or web l2 of substantialiy the crosssectona] configuration ofthejcufb l'3; such web having a transversefiange I4 exteriding across the top of the weband down both sidesthereof to groundlvel G1,1thisfiange'prs jecting some distancgbrid bbthsds'f sad web.

The above embodiment functions in thejsafne mannr "as previos'ly-described, the freshly therfrom 'when the concrete sets, the flange 14at an tir'nes covering and ;rtecting thegap between adjacent setionsofthe curb.

From the foregoing description it W11 be readilyseen that I haveproduced such a device as comprising a rigid bordering frame rectangularn' pian, said frame'being of a height equal to theihi kness of the s1absto be formed therein,

ap1urality ofexpansion joints rigidiy and permanently connected withsaid bordering frame, separating the area within the latter into aplualityof rectangular slab receiving sections, the frame' borderingatleast one edge c f each s1ab poured' in said setions, and a (p1ura1ityor longit11dinaily space'd anChoring elements rigid with and projecting'inwa1diyfrom the bordering frame intermdiace the top and battom therefWherby to anchor the s1abs atsaid edges to the bor'deringrame; sazdjoints-:being' I-beams arranged to freely receve, in the.opposedchannels thereof, the remaining dges ofthe slabs.

